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Freight Forwarding UAE – Transports Germany ↔ United Arab Emirates

Transports to the UAE run by sea freight Hamburg–Jebel Ali (approx. 18–24 days) or air freight (approx. 2–5 days) to Dubai. The UAE are a non-EU country – the import into Dubai is made with a certificate of origin; free zones such as JAFZA offer simplified procedures.

Stacked sea containers at the terminal

The United Arab Emirates are Germany's most important sales market in the Gulf – and the hub for the entire Middle East trade. Speed Logistics organises transports from Germany to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah door-to-door: by sea freight from Hamburg to the port of Jebel Ali in around 18–24 days, or by air freight from Frankfurt to Dubai in 2–5 days – in each case including complete customs clearance from EXW to DDP.

You receive a fixed-price quote within a few hours and a dedicated contact in our 24/7 dispatch team. We run the pre-carriage in Germany with our own equipment, from a van to a 40-tonne truck; the delivery in the Emirates is handled by vetted partners – with precise advance notice, on request with premium handling for high-value goods such as electronics, exhibition goods or interior fittings.

Scope of services for UAE transports

  • Sea freight FCL and LCL from Hamburg/Bremerhaven to Jebel Ali, the largest port in the Middle East
  • Air freight from Frankfurt to Dubai for urgent and high-value shipments
  • Door-to-door service including export packaging, clearance and delivery in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah
  • Exhibition and project logistics, e.g. for trade fairs in Dubai, with an ATA carnet for temporary exports
  • Premium handling for luxury goods, high-tech and sensitive building-project fittings

Customs clearance for the Emirates

We handle the export declaration in Germany and the import clearance in the UAE via our local partners. Base documents are the commercial invoice, packing list and, in many cases, a certificate of origin; on import, a duty rate of usually 5% is levied on the value of the goods. A special feature are the free trade zones such as the Jebel Ali Free Zone: deliveries to consignees in a free zone initially remain duty-free – we check in advance which procedure applies to your consignee and factor the duties transparently into the quote.

Process and special features

After your enquiry with the key data, we choose the mode of transport together, prepare the documents and book the capacity. For temperature-sensitive goods we take account of the climatic conditions in the Gulf – in summer, insulated packaging or temperature-controlled equipment is often advisable. During the transport your contact informs you of shipping, arrival and customs release up to proof of receipt at the consignee.

Industries and typical goods for the Emirates

On the Germany–UAE lane we move above all three types of goods: high-tech and electronics for the trade and re-export hub of Dubai, construction and project fittings for the ongoing major projects in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and luxury and interior goods for hospitality and retail. Each of these categories has its own requirements – from theft-protected handling of high-value electronics through time-critical construction-site delivery to white-glove treatment of sensitive furnishings. Our premium handling covers exactly these cases, including packaging advice and continuous shipment support.

Why Speed Logistics for the UAE?

Freight, customs and on-carriage from one hand, a calculable fixed price and a dispatch team that takes the Emirates' working weekend and local public holidays into account when scheduling. Whether a single project shipment to Abu Dhabi or regular shipments to Jebel Ali – enquire about your lane without obligation – the fixed-price quote including all customs and incidental costs is available within a few hours.

Frequently asked questions: Freight Forwarding UAE

How long does a transport from Germany to Dubai take?

By sea freight from Hamburg to the port of Jebel Ali, reckon on around 18–24 days of pure transit time, or around 4–5 weeks door-to-door including clearance. Air freight from Frankfurt to Dubai reaches the consignee in 2–5 days – the right choice for urgent or high-value shipments.

What customs duty applies on import into the UAE?

On regular import into the United Arab Emirates, a duty rate of usually 5% of the value of the goods is levied on most goods. Deliveries into free trade zones such as the Jebel Ali Free Zone initially remain duty-free. We check in advance which procedure applies to your consignee.

Which documents do I need for a UAE export?

The standard is a commercial invoice, packing list and often a certificate of origin from the chamber of commerce; added to this is the electronic export declaration in Germany. Depending on the type of goods, additional certificates may be required. Speed Logistics prepares the documents, checks completeness and handles the import via local partners.

What is a free-zone delivery in the Emirates?

Free trade zones such as the Jebel Ali Free Zone are special economic zones outside the UAE customs territory. Goods delivered to a consignee in a free zone remain duty-free on arrival; duties only arise when the goods move into the domestic market. For distribution warehouses in the Gulf this is often the most economical solution.

Can you transport exhibition goods to Dubai?

Yes. For trade fairs and exhibitions in Dubai or Abu Dhabi we organise the outbound and return transport with an ATA carnet, so that no customs duties arise for the temporary import. We schedule the delivery to match the set-up slot, and the return transport directly after the fair ends. We also handle combined shipments of exhibition goods and sale goods cleanly separated on the customs side.

How do you protect temperature-sensitive goods on the way to the Gulf?

With summer temperatures of over 40 °C in the Emirates, we recommend, depending on the goods, insulated packaging, temperature-controlled containers or air freight with a short standstill. We assess the risk before booking and choose equipment and routing so that your goods arrive undamaged.

What should I pay particular attention to when transporting to the UAE?

A certificate of origin is required for the import into Dubai; depending on the type of goods, conformity proofs are added. Decisive is whether the goods go into a free zone such as JAFZA or into the local market – the procedures and duties differ considerably. As the UAE are served by sea via the Suez Canal or by air, departure and flight schedules determine the transit time.

Why can delivery into a UAE free zone such as JAFZA be simpler?

Free zones such as JAFZA offer simplified customs procedures and, in part, duty exemption as long as the goods remain there or are re-exported. For warehousing, transhipment or re-export business this is a clear advantage over direct market import. Speed Logistics tailors the handling to the target procedure – free zone or domestic market.

Request freight forwarding uae

Contact our dispatch team – fixed-price quote within hours, available 24/7.